Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command have intercepted a truckload of suspected counterfeit and substandard pharmaceutical products estimated to be worth billions of naira during a raid in the Otto area of Ijora, Lagos.
​The breakthrough was made public on Monday, August 3, 2026, by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Fatai Tijani, during a press briefing at the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) office in Ijora Olopa.
​Following actionable intelligence, officers attached to the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) raided a location at No. 7 Otto Causeway, Otto, Ijora, where suspects were caught actively repackaging suspected adulterated medical supplies for distribution.
A heavy-duty truck bearing registration number KFR 241 XA (Katsina) was recovered at an adjacent warehouse location during a court-sanctioned search. Two individuals were apprehended on-site. Preliminary investigations reveal the suspects were engaged to haul the illicit consignment to northern states across Nigeria, as well as neighbouring West African countries.
Multiple cartons of fake antimalarials, pain relievers, syringes, and unregistered prescription pharmaceuticals.
​”If such products are allowed to circulate, they pose serious health risks and can endanger the lives of many people. Investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend the principal importers and networks behind this operation.” stated CP Fatai Tijani.
​The Lagos State Police Command has officially handed over both the seized truckload and the two arrested suspects to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for detailed laboratory testing, batch auditing, and prosecution.
​Receiving the consignment, Martin Iluyomade, Director of Investigation and Enforcement at NAFDAC and Chairman of the Federal Task Force on Counterfeit and Fake Drugs, commended the police for their swift action, noting that NAFDAC will conduct comprehensive laboratory analyses to trace the origin of the products.
